Cigar and like cutter



ff//Ef/TOR- LBERTW/W/ A. w. MITCHELL CIGAR AND LIKE CUTTER Filed oet. 21. 192x 'rd/VEL L.

Patented Dec. 2, 1924.

unirse ALBERT W. MITCHELL, OF NEW HAVEN. CONNECTICUT.

CIGARk AND LIKE CUTTER.

Application filed October 21, 1921.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that l, ALBERT V. hir'rcr-IELL, a citizen of the United States, andresident of New Haven, in the county ofN ew Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented cer-V tain new and useful Improvements in Cigar and like Cutters, of which the following.

is a specification.

The present invention relates to devices v creased and the reliability and efficiency ofy the article is materially increased. Furthermore, the improved article is so designed that the devices introduced with the object of increasing the utility of the article when used as a cigar-cutter, co-operate so as tov provide convenient A,and useful means for igniting matches.

In accordance with this invention, new and useful improvements have been made over previously known cigar-cutters and these improvements will be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the article in a closed condition,

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the article in an open condition,

Figure 3 is a side elevation partly in section, V Y

Figure 4 is alongitudinal section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a cross section taken on line 5-5 of Figure l, and

Figure 6 illustrates the blank of which the case is composed.

Referring now to said drawings, the blank 1, (see Fig. 6) of which the case member is made, has two sections 2 united together by the intermediate portion 3, and in the operation of cutting` out this blank, the holes 4 are punched out, all the corners of the blank are rounded and the indentation 5 is formed in one of the sections. rlfhe edges of the blank are flared or turned over to form lips 6 and the blank is then vfolded along the dotted lines 7 to bring the two sections into a position parallel with each other, leaving an intervening space to form the pocket 8 which is open at the top and ser-ni 1ro. 509,338.

both ends. The case member so formed is then nished, particularly by removing sharpness of all its edges, and plated and polished if desired.

The cutting blade 9 is preferably icompletely finished before assembling and has the pivot hole 10 formed therein and the cutting edge 11 is rounded and sharpened so as to ensure a perfect shearing cut. The heel 12 is provided to act as a stop and they back edge of the blade is knurled or roughened to provide a better grip for the fingers of the operator when closing the blade and effecting the cutting operation. The extended end 13 having eye 14, provides both `a lever by means of which theA blade is opened and means for securing the article to a chain, for'example.

In, assembling the two'members of the article, the sections or side walls 2 are simply sprung apart suiiiciently to permit engagement of the indentation 5 in the pivot holel 10, and it should be noted that the pivoted connection is preferably such that a certain amount of play is allowed whereby, besides the pivoted angular movement, the blade is given longitudinal movement thereby ob-'rA taining the best result for the cutting action of the blade. Furthermore, the spring sides of the case bearfagainst the blade and cause the beveled edge 11 to lie close against one side ofthe case so that the tip of a cigar, for example, insertedthrough the registering apertures provided by the holes 4, is cleanly cut off when the operation of cutting is effected. The cuttingV edge being beveled, a better cutting action is obtained if the cigar tip is inserted into ythe aperture of which the edge thereof meets the cutting edge and to indicate the side of the article having this aperture, the surface thereof is knurled as at 15 and which knurling also serves to present a better gripping surface.

In the operation of the improved article, the blade when not in use, lies well within the pocket of the case, with the heel 12 resting onthe bottom of the pocket and which bottom is formed by the connecting portion 3. Only the lever end 13protrudes, and the spring sides bearing on the blade retain the blade in its closed position even though the pivot of the blade is `comparatively loose. It is however necessary that the spring pressure of the sides of the case should only be exerted while the cutting Vel() act-ion is taking place and when the blade is completely closed, therefore the blade is relieved of the spring pressure in toe open or partly opened? position by fia-ring or expanding the edges of the pocket an in doing this the lips 6 are formec. ach of the blade lies below the edges of the lips 6 and with the latter forms a channel open at both ends yand this channel having the knurled or abrasive surface at the bottom provides a convenient guiding groove in which a match may be ignited.

To .open the blade to permit insertion of the cigar-tip7V the article is held in one hand, but not so tightly as to pinch the spring sides, and the lever end 13 is moved downwardly7 lifting the blade which is subsequently forced down, by the pressure of the lfinger on the lmnrled baci: of the blade as far as possible and because of the loose pivotal connection aforesaid, a forward and rcceding movement is given to the blade in the opening and closing thereof, and the receding movement in closing the bladeensures a bettershearing action than if angular movement about a fixed point `alone is depended upon to effect the cutting. lin order to retain the blade in its closed position the lever end 13 is yutilized to tightly wedge the blade between the spring sides and this also` clears the channel which serves as the. match striking means.

It will be noted that the end of the casing adjacent to the pivotal point is roundec so as to be substantially concentric with the pivot therefore the lever end of the cuting member may be conveniently'operated to bring. the said member to the open position which. is limited by engagement of said lever end with the end of the bottom or portion 3 ofthe casing.

Prior to this invention, it has been proposed to construct a cigar-cutter or the like having but one of the following' features: (1) A casing composed of a. sheet metal piece bent over to form parallel sides between which a cutting member is pivotally mounted and arranged so that when said member is in the closed posit-ion, the back thereof projects from the top of the casing to permit opening of said member: (12) .er reciprocating member contained within a casing, said meinberhaving an edged back and said casing` having parallel sides provided with flared edges forming a trough for the back of said member and which member is given a sliding motion to cause an inserted cigar-tip to engage the cutting edge of an opening inthe casing: (3) `Means for pivotally connecting a cutting member at one end to the cover of a match bor, separate means at the other end of said member for connecting the latter to the box and which latter means comprises a pin engaged Lamers by an elongated slot in said member so that when said cover is operated, motion is given to said member under guidance of Qaid pin ana slot: Means for ypivotally mounting a cutting member between two sections forming a handle open at the front and bacljz, said means comprising pivots consisting of i'ndentations formed in sail sections and which sections are held toether by means of a screw located adjacent 'o ythe pivotal point of member so as hold said indentations in position to act as pivots for saidV member.

The above mentioned features are embodied in thepresent invention but in each instance the feature is materially improved andthese improvements are clearly defined in the following claims.

1. An article of manufacture as described having a casing composed of a one-piece sheet metal blank bent. to form side-walls provided with outwardly flaring upper edges and forming a pocket wholly containclosed position, said blade member being pivotally mounted within said casing, a heel on said blade member serving as a stop which engages the bottom of said pocket when the blade member is in its closed position and said blade member having an eX- tended protruding end providing means whereby 'the opening pivotal movement of .aid blade is effected and limited.

2. A. cigar-cutter having a pivoted cutting member, a receiving casing for said member, said member having a protruding lever end arranged with co-operating means comprising a shoulder on the botto i of said casing to act as rmeans for effecting a limitedk opening movement of said member and the pivot for said cutting member being composed of an indentation in said casing engaging 'an elongated hole in said member.

An articley as described having a casing and a blade pivotally mounted therein constructed and arranged to co-operate so as to provide a combined cigar-cutter and match striking device, said blade having an entended lever end and an abrasive surface on the bach/edge thereof, said casing having spring side walls frictionally engaging said blade when the latter is closed, registering apertures in said side walls to receive the cigar-i tip to be operated on, and said side walls having flared or outwardly expanded edges so as to provide widened guide groove of which said abrasive back edge of the blade forms the bottoni when the blade is in its closed position.

Signedat New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, this 18th day of October, A. D. 1921.`

ALBERT lV. ll/HTOHELL.

ing blade member therein when in its 

